R&B sensation Tsakani “TK” Mhinga was on Monday found dead in a Bryanston hotel, northern Johannesburg, police said.
South African Police Service spokesperson Captain Schalk Bornman said the 27-year-old had no marks on her body.
“She was discovered by a staff member at the hotel. There is no evidence of a struggle,” Bornman said.
He said the hotel staff member made the discovery at about 1.30pm on Monday.
“We didn’t find any physical injuries on her body, but we will wait for the post-mortem report and the medical report” to establish the cause of death, Bornman told the Mail & Guardian Online.
It is understood that kwaito star Mandoza was with Mhinga at the hotel on Sunday.
Mandoza’s manager, Vaughn Eton, confirmed to the South African Press Association (Sapa) that he had been with her.
“I phoned Mandoza who told me he was sitting at the hotel lounge with Mhinga. She was complaining about issues with her boyfriend. Clearly, that was bringing her down. But, she seemed to be fine,” Eton said.
Sapa reported that a note was found next to Mhinga’s body, but it is not known what the note contained.
Chris Ghelakis, MD of Electromode Music, told the M&G Online that he feels extreme sadness. “I was there from the beginning [of Mhinga’s career]”.
“TK was great. She was very highly talented. We will be issuing a press release tomorrow [Tuesday] morning as soon as we get all the facts first,” he added.
Mhinga (27), who grew up in Soweto and made her first recording soon after completing matric, won South African Music Awards (Samas) for best R&B album for 2001’s TKO (which contained the hit Mind Your Business) and 2002’s Eject Yo Ass.
Her acclaimed album Black Butterfly, released in 2003, also won a Sama for best R&B album (as well as one for best joint composition) and was widely playlisted on radio stations such as 5fm, YFM, Metro FM, Good Hope FM and Ukhozi FM.
On Black Butterfly, Mhinga covered Judy Garland’s classic Somewhere over the Rainbow. She told the M&G in December that her best moment of 2005 was when she performed the song at the Bidvest annual company function with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra.
She collaborated successfully with several other popular artists. DJ Jazzy D recently remixed Somewhere over the Rainbow.
Mhinga had a baby boy, Oratile.